Warning China against creating any ‘artificial’ controversy over the Dalai Lama’s Arunachal Pradesh visit, India today said that the Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit was strictly religious, not political.

Warning China against creating any ‘artificial’ controversy over the Dalai Lama’s Arunachal Pradesh visit, India today said that the Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit was strictly religious, not political.

The Ministry of External affairs, in a statement, said that no additional colour should be ascribed to the Dalai Lama’s religious and spiritual activities.

It also warned that no artificial controversy should be created around the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

“The Government has clearly stated on several occasions that (HHDL) is a revered religious leader, who is deeply respected as such by the Indian people,” the statement said.

"No additional colour should be ascribed to his religious and spiritual activities and visits to various states of India. The government, therefore, urges that no artificial controversy should be created around his present visit to Arunachal Pradesh," it added.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told media persons that the central government as well as the people of Arunachal Pradesh want cordial relationship with China.

However, he insisted that no political angle should be given to the purely religious visit of the Dalai Lama.

“His (Dalai Lama) visit is purely religious in nature and there should be no political angle given to that,” Rijiju said.